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Thru the World Together 



Thru the world we’ll journey 
As lovers side by side; 

And love’s morning star 
Will be our daily guide. 

Be the journey even 
Or beset with stone — 

May sunshine and shadows 
Find us not alone. 


C|)e Bp tl)e ^ta 


Price 50 Cents 



BY 


WILLIAM LEE POPHAM 


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©C!,A273(557 


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Copyright 1910 


BY 

WILLIAM LEE POPHAM 


3|e * 5|e 3|c 3ft 


THE AUTHOR’S OTHER BOOKS. 


“Poems of Truth, Love and Power.” 
“Silver Gems in Seas of Gold.” 
“Nut Shells of Truth.” 

“Love’s Rainbow Dream.” 

“The Valley of Love.” 

“A Tramp’s Love.” 

“She Dared to Win.” 



Cl)e Pillage Bj> tlie ^ea 


BY 

WiLUAM Lee Popham 


“The Village by the Sea” is a 
small city, kissed by the laughing- 
waves of the Atlantic and popu- 
lated by the highest rank of citizen- 
ship found in the “Land of the free 
and the home of the brave.” The 
purple clouds hung in pictures of 
silver on the western horizon and 
the evening sun was sinking low 
behind the vine-clad knob. The 
October breezes sang their autumn 
song and swayed the bending 
boughs with sweetest melody. The 
meadows were waving their flower- 
flags as an adieu to the setting sun, 
and all nature shown to be the 
5 


THE VILLAGE BY THE SEA 


handiwork of God. The village talk 
was about the big wedding to take 
place “to-night” at the Presby- 
terian church. 

Dressed in white, girls paraded 
the streets for the evening walk; 
and the talk was the “wedding, 
wedding, wedding.” The reception 
of the day was over and everything 
was in splendid preparation for the 
brilliant affair which now was 
drawing near a climax. The sun 
had set in the far west where only 
a streak of crimson and gold was 
left to mark its mighty way. The 
village church bell was ringing its 
wedding joys and two young hearts 
so soon to be “as one” were beat- 
ing with pride and love. 

The bride and groom (to be) sat 
together in the beautiful parlor 
where “man and wife they agreed 
to be,” picturing the future and 
6 


THE VILLAGE BY THE SEA 


talking of the wedding of a few 
hours hence. ‘ ‘ I feel that this is the 
crowning period of my life,” said 
Jess Bryan, “an epoch to ever 
stand out in letters of gold on mem- 
ory’s fair page.” 

“I hope so,” responded Eubie 
Gladstone. “To-night is to be the 
beautiful realization of my fanciest 
dreams.” 

“May it ever be a beautiful 
dream,” said Jess Bryan, as he 
looked lovingly into her flashing 
eyes. 

The twilight shadows were flash- 
ing and night was slowly drawing 
her curtain down, while the breezes 
seemed to sing as if trying to rock 
the slumbering world to sleep. 
Folks might be preparing to retire 
in some parts of the shadowed 
world, but every citizen in “The 
Village by the Sea” was wide 
7 


THE VILLAGE BY THE SEA 


awake, and droves of persons were 
moving toward the church amid the 
sweet chimes of the wedding bell. 
Carriages from many parts of the 
county were being unloaded and 
the church aisles were fastly filling 
for the brilliant occasion. 

The great audience that filled 
every available space in the large 
church swayed like the rolling sea, 
while the bridal party walked down 
the aisle amid enchanting peals of 
the wedding march and bouquets of 
admiring friends. 

Halting at the large urn of beau- 
tiful fiowers, the splendid couple 
stood at the altar and faced the 
parson, who stood ready to pro- 
nounce the ceremony. The bride- 
to-be of sixteen singing summers, 
attired in streamlets of white and 
with blushing modesty, stood with 
her hand resting, with poetic con- 
8 


THE VILLAGE BY THE SEA 


fidence, upon the strong arm of a 
noble man whose sterling qualities 
were an honor to American man- 
hood and a blessing to the loftiest 
state of our matchless womanhood. 
While the enchanted peals of the 
dying music still filled the perfume- 
laden air, each answered the ques- 
tions which stood for loyalty, love 
and hope this side of the grave. 

Prom the fields of friendship 
were gathered every flower of sen- 
timent and shade of beauty, and 
while the bride and groom marched 
toward the door as “wife and hus- 
band” bouquets showered, rice 
rained from clear skies, roses rolled 
at their feet, electric lights flashed 
from colored trimmings, maidens 
waved their jeweled hands, mothers 
smiled with approval, while con- 
gratulations and well wishes filled 
the glad air with melody sublime. 

9 


THE VILLAGE BY THE SEA 


The carriage was awaiting with 
open door, and after hundreds of 
congratulatory handshakes the car- 
riage door went “bang” amid peal- 
ing strains of brass bands, laughter 
of boys and girls, bark of dogs, 
whinny of ponies, light of stars and 
soft gleams of yellow moonlight, 
while rolling wheels carried Jess 
Bryan and his young bride to the 
railroad station, where the Pullman 
coach “claimed its own.’’? The 
honeymoon of three months was 
spent traveling, amid rare scenery, 
when the bride and groom came 
back to their newly furnished home 
to “live and die” in “the Village 
by the Sea.” 

A few days later Jess Bryan, at- 
tired in blue overalls, kissed his 
girl wife, and leaving her fond em- 
brace at the front gate, started on 
his “old run” in the position of 
10 


THE VILLAGE BY THE SEA 


engineer of a “thru passenger” 
train. The young engineer only 
came home every other night, but 
“Darling Rubie,” as he often called 
her, always greeted him with ca- 
resses at the front gate. Home was 
his heaven and Rubie was the 
queen. Indeed, a queen she must 
have been, for Jess often said: 
“Heaven holds no more beauty, 
bliss and happiness than my vine- 
clad cottage where Darling Rubie 
waits to greet me.” 

This cottage home was a picture 
of glory and love which no artist 
can paint. “I am so glad you are 
home again,” said the pretty wife. 
“I wait and long to hear you give 
the signal from the engine, telling 
me you are coming; and next to 
your own dear voice, it’s the sweet- 
est sound on earth.” 

“I’m glad you recognize the toot 
11 


THE VILLAGE BY THE SEA 


of the whistle,” said Jess. “I will 
always give it as I pass the bend to 
let you know that all is well.” 

Jess pressed her to his bosom, 
saying: “I’m the happiest man in 
the world and probably the richest, 
for I have you.” 

“Having me couldn’t make you 
rich,” said Mrs. Bryan, smiling, 
“but I trust it can make you 
happy. ’ ’ 

“I ask no greater wealth,” said 
Jess, “than a happy home and a 
loving wife as its queen.” 

The purple glow now faded from 
the western skies ; the flowers closed 
their petals in dewy slumbers of the 
night ; every wing was folded in the 
bower; every voice was hushed; 
the full-orbed moon lit the clouds 
with silver and God’s jewels of dew 
sparkled on every bending flower, 
12 


THE VILLAGE BY THE SEA 


while the happy couple slept and 
dreamed away the silent hours. 

Months passed on the wings of 
time and another picture swung on 
the golden hinge of matrimony. 
Jess Bryan stood in a father’s 
pride by the bedside, stooped ten- 
derly and kissed a happy mother 
and baby boy. It was a beautiful 
picture as Jess said to his young 
wife: “You now have the honor of 
motherhood and you are still my 
bride.” 

The peach of maidenhood was 
still upon her cheek, a girlish lustre 
kindled in her eye and a wife’s and 
mother’s pride began to lay plans 
for a prosperous family and happy 
home. 

Weeks passed and time came to 
name the baby. Father, mother 
and baby sat together in their 
happy home. “I will leave it to its 
13 


THE VILLAGE BY THE SEA 


darling mother to name,” said Jess 
Bryan, as he kissed the infant’s 
soft cheek. 

“No,” said Mrs. Bryan, “I will 
have its father to say the name he 
shall carry thru life.” 

“As it’s a boy,” continued the 
mother, “I will gladly leave it for 
you to name, but if it were a girl, 
I would accept your generosity and 
name it Bessie Lee.” 

“Well,” said Jess, laughingly, 
“we may call him Bessie Lee 
Bryan.” 

“That’s a girl’s name,” said 
Mrs. Bryan. 

“Perhaps,” said the husband, 
smiling, you might some day have 
an opportunity to use your favorite 
name, ‘Bessie Lee.’ ” 

“Stop your teasing, Jess,” said 
Mrs. Bryan, and she blushed like 
a sixteen-year-old girl before her 
14 


THE VILLAGE BY THE SEA 


lover while being implored for a 
caress. 

“Don’t worry about the name,” 
said the proud father. “I’ll give 
him a name that might be written 
in the hall of fame.” 

A brief two days passed and the 
young engineer again pressed the 
sweet lips of wife and baby. 
“What’s going to be darlings 
name?” said Mrs. Bryan, almost 
the first word after his return. 

“Clayton Bryan,” said the hus- 
band, proudly. “How do you like 
my selection?” 

“Oh, I see,” said Mrs. Bryan, 
“you name him for his grandfather 
and I think it ideal.” 

“God grant that he will ever re- 
flect honor upon the family name,” 
she continued. 

Jess Bryan continued to follow 
his occupation and supported his 
15 


THE VILLAGE BY THE SEA 


wife and child with plenty of every- 
thing which he thought might add 
to domestic happiness. Mrs. Bryan 
was the proudest and happiest of 
mothers and proved to be a jewel 
in a Christian home. 

Two happy years passed and the 
home again became the scene of a 
new-born. A sweet, dimpled baby 
girl added joy to the proud father 
and mother. 

The holiest sight to mortal eyes 
to-day is a young mother bending 
over the cradle of her first born — it 
calls to mind the miracle of that 
Christmas night in the lowly man- 
ger where gentle Jesus first saw the 
morning dawn. About each infant 
head there seems to shine some sa- 
cred ray from that glorious halo 
that circled the countenance of the 
Christ. 

Jess Bryan was not only the 


16 


THE VILLAGE BY THE SEA 


proudest of fathers, but was con- 
sidered the bravest engineer on 
“No. 1.” 

Loyal to duty, loyal and loving 
to family and loyal to God, Jess 
Bryan had two babies to kiss, and 
said that “Darling Eubie” was 
still bis bride. 

One evening the mother waited 
patiently the signal that Jess was 
“safe and sound.” The passenger 
train roared in the distance, and as 
it rounded the curve near the Bryan 
home a happy wife listened to hear 
just one little “toot” of the whistle. 
On the train roars! “Toot,” “ah! 
there it is,” said Mrs. Bryan to the 
babies. Leading the little boy with 
one hand and pressing the dimpled 
baby girl to her glad heart, she 
waited to greet her husband at the 
gate. In a short time the glad hus- 
band and father came toward 


17 


THE VILLAGE BY THE SEA 


“home, sweet home,” the blessed 
shrine of precious memories! The 
clouds were a sea of sunset gold 
and a shower of kisses fell from 
the heaven of love. Soon all were 
at the supper table, and after the 
husband asked the blessings of the 
King of Kings, Mrs. Bryan said: 
“Jess, what are we going to name 
our girl baby?” 

“We! why, dear, there’s no ‘we’ 
in it. Do you not remember,” said 
the husband, smiling, “that I were 
to name the boys and you were to 
name the girls?” 

“Besides,” continued Mr. Bryan, 
“I thought that it was a foregone 
conclusion that you were to name 
the girl ‘Bessie Lee’ for your 
mother. ’ ’ 

“Be it so,” said Mrs. Bryan, with 
a dimpled smile, ‘ ‘ of all names, it ’s 
my choice.” 


18 


THE VILLAGE BY THE SEA 


“Our pleasure is mutual,” said 
the husband, “and we have two of 
the sweetest children that ever 
gladdened a home.” 

In a few short years Clayton and 
Bessie Lee made the geese flutter, 
the chickens flee, the grasshoppers 
jump, the June bugs hum and the 
pigs squeal. Play is childhood’s 
heaven and bare feet paddle in the 
mud and wade the branch, while 
young hands play a romantic part 
in capturing a young bird or rob the 
nest of its eggs. 


19 


CHAPTER II. 


Clayton Bryan and Ms sister, 
Bessie Lee, grew to be very devoted 
to each other and were the pride 
of a father’s and a mother’s heart. 
Besides being obedient and manly, 
the brother was a kind-hearted 
youth, and whatever he undertook 
to do he did it well. It was his 
greatest pleasure to help his mother 
and sister, for so long as he did 
this he knew that he also pleased his 
toiling father. When the tired en- 
gineer returned from his long run, 
he never had any work to do, for 
Clayton always carried the water, 
cut the wood, fed and milked the 
cow and made himself useful in 
general. 

Happy school days were in their 
prime. The golden days passed 
like dreams, while the Bryan chil- 
20 


THE VILLAGE BY THE SEA 


dren “learned their lessons” and 
were punctual in attendance. The 
charming yoimg teacher, Miss Prin- 
cess Le Roy, was kind and patient 
and commanded the respect of all. 

Clayton Bryan was then a lad of 
seventeen years and soon learned 
“the first rule,” for his teacher was 
a damsel of eighteen brief sum- 
mers. The young teacher was 
beautiful as her name, and when 
Clayton Bryan heard the children 
say, “Miss Princess,” his young 
heart seemed to leap for liberty of 
expression behind the bars of love. 

Princess LeRoy recognized in 
Clayton an extraordinary talent for 
public speaking, a manly nature 
— and above all, his courteous at- 
tention, for not a day passed with- 
out his smiling presentation of a 
big, red apple, a bunch of grapes or 
something nice in its season. 

21 


THE VILLAGE BY THE SEA 


Despite her life’s aim to “marry 
a wealthy man,” she grew to re- 
turn the lad’s love, and yet against 
her own will. 

The school children came home in 
droves and their glad laughter 
floated in the summer breeze and 
was lost amid the song of the flut- 
tering birds. 

“The Village by the Sea” af- 
forded good educational facilities, 
and, above all things, it was Jess 
Bryan’s desire to give his two chil- 
dren an early education. In this 
he was successful, for the Bryan 
children stood amongst the head of 
the class. The Bryan home nestled 
on a beautiful lawn at the edge of 
town and every afternoon, on re- 
turning from school, Clayton and 
Bessie Lee were met far up the 
lane by “Watch,” the faithful old 
family dog. Watch would come 
22 


THE VILLAGE BY THE SEA 


bounding with all his speed and 
greet the brother and sister by cut- 
ting great capers on the lawn. 

It was a cloudy morning when 
Jess Bryan kissed his wife and 
“big babies” a fond “good-bye” 
and started on his usual run. Only 
a few short years ago his kisses 
were for wife and babies, but now 
they were for “wife, son and 
daughter,” and with a request to 
“be good at home and school until 
papa returns.” The brave en- 
gineer left his splendid family of 
three at the gate and soon was 
roaring toward the west at rapid 
speed. That night as Mrs. Bryan 
led the family prayer, her heart 
seemed heavy as if something 
would happen. After the prayer 
the mother and two children sat 
around the blazing fireside of a 
sweet Christian home. 


23 


THE VILLAGE BY THE SEA 


Watch was in the yard and 
howled and moaned piteously. This 
the dog had not been known to do 
before. The faithful old dog 
howled and howled till the sound 
seemed to burden the air with sad- 
ness. 

“Oh, do run out there,” said Mrs. 
Bryan, addressing Clayton, “and 
make Watch stop that dreadful 
noise.” The boy obeyed, but his 
efforts were in vain; for when he 
came back to the fireside, the dog 
howled the more. “Take him a 
piece of meat,” said Mrs. Bryan. 
This was also in vain, for the dog 
would not eat. “I have a very 
queer presentment to-night,” said 
Mrs. Bryan. “I fear your father 
is doomed for an accident.” 

“I trust not,” said Bessie Lee, 
as she placed her soft, white arms 
around her mother’s neck. 


24 


THE VILLAGE BY THE SEA 


“Don’t borrow trouble, mother,” 
said Clayton. “If anything should 
happen, we would get a telegram at 
once.” Dark shadows hung on the 
brow of night and the little family 
were soon quiet in bed. 

The brother and sister were soon 
in the land of wanted slumber, but 
no sleep for Mrs. Bryan. The dog 
howled, the wind moaned and the 
old clock counted off the hours of 
a sleepless night of a true, loving, 
devoted wife. 

Morning came and melted dark- 
ness into light and the sunbeams 
kissed the dew from the cheeks of 
sweet smelling flowers. The chil- 
dren kissed their mother as usual 
and started for school. Again even- 
ing was approaching and Watch 
met them far up the lane as usual 
with “proud capers.” When the 
children arrived the lonely mother 
25 


THE VILLAGE BY THE SEA 


was waiting to greet them at the 
gate. Her heart was heavy and she 
could not conceal her grief. The 
evening work was hastily done and 
the time came to hear the signal 
which told that husband and father 
was “safe.” Twilight was nearing 
when wife and children had finished 
supper and were sitting in the yard 
to hear the signal. “It’s train time 
now,” said Mrs. Bryan. 

“Yes, and listen!” said Clayton. 
“I hear it coming.” 

“Yes, I hear it roar,” said Bessie 
Lee. 

“Thank God!” shouted Mrs. 
Bryan. Now a roaring train could 
be heard distinctly and all eyes 
were turned in that direction. 

“Just one little ‘toot,’ ” sighed 
Mrs. Bryan, “and I shall be the 
happiest of women.” 

26 


THE VILLAGE BY THE SEA 


“Toot! Toot! Toot!” Three 
times. 

“What does it mean?” asked 
Mrs. Bryan. 

“It’s not father’s signal,” said 
the son. A moment later the train 
roared hy, hut no other signal was 
heard. 

“It’s the first time your father 
has failed to give the signal,” said 
Mrs. Bryan, in tears. 

“Oh, mother!” said Bessie Lee, 
“that’s a freight train!” 

“That’s right,” said the son. 
The passenger train was past due. 
Far up the track it was still and 
dark. “It’s no use to stay out here, 
mother, said Clayton, and upon his 
suggestion the three anxious ones 
went to the house. 

“I have felt queerly since last 
night,” said Mrs. Bryan. 

“Mother, let me run down to the 
27 


THE VILLAGE BY THE SEA 


depot and see the report,” sug- 
gested Clayton. 

“What’s the matter with No. 1?” 
asked Clayton of the agent. 

“It’s a wreck, Clayton, said the 
agent, “but don’t frighten your 
mother. ’ ’ 

“For God’s sake! tell me, man, is 
my father killed?” asked the boy. 

“Don’t be frightened, boy,” said 
the agent, “no one is killed.” 

“I want to know the facts,” de- 
manded Clayton. 

“Here’s the telegram; read for 
yourself,” responded the agent. 
The boy took the paper with a 
trembling hand and read it with 
wild eyes. “No. 1 two hours late, 
caused by wreck. Several injured. 
None killed.” 

With a leap and a bound Clayton 
started back home to break the 
news to mother and sister. Mrs. 

28 


THE VILLAGE BY THE SEA 


Bryan and Bessie Lee stood in the 
doorway in each other’s embrace, 
waiting the boy’s return. Watch 
now resumed his awful distressing 
howls which made cold chills run 
over the human body. 

“Something is wrong,’’ said Mrs. 
Bryan. “I never heard Watch take 
on so.” 

Bessie Lee didn’t speak, but only 
sobbed and drew her arms more 
tightly around her mother. 

“Oh, for that one little signal,” 
sobbed the woman. 

“Listen! the gate slammed. It’s 
Clayton,” sobbed Mrs. Bryan. The 
boy came in a run. 

“Father’s not dead!” shouted 
the boy. Their faces lighted up 
with joy. 

“Is he hurt?” asked mother and 
sister in one voice. 


29 


THE VILLAGE BY THE SEA 


“Don't know!” answered he. 
“Here’s the telegram.” 

Frightened and trembling, both 
mother and sister took hold of the 
paper and read: “No. 1 two hours 
late, caused by wreck. Several in- 
jured. None killed.” 

“May be father’s not one of the 
injured,” exclaimed Bessie Lee. 

“Something tells me he is,” re- 
sponded Mrs. Bryan. “I have felt 
it since yesterday morning.” 

“Let us all go in and pray,” said 
Mrs. Bryan. It was a sad scene. 
Every one on their knees amid grief 
and tears. The dog still howled. 
“Seems like Watch is praying, 
too,” thought Clayton. The old 
clock struck eleven ! Past bed time ! 
but sleep wasn’t even thought of. 
By this time the news of the wreck 
had spread over the whole township 
and many anxious minds were won- 
30 


THE VILLAGE BY THE SEA 


dering. The clock struck twelve! 

“It sounds like a funeral knell,” 
sobbed the tearful mother. 

Very little conversation passed. 
The very tick of the clock seemed 
“oh, so sad!” 

Bang! went the gate! “Oh, 
could it be dear father?” thought 
each sorrowful one. 

“It’s the depot agent,” sobbed 
Bessie Lee, as she stretched her 
neck to see. The agent was met at 
the door by three inquiring voices. 
He tried to smile to keep down 
fright, but smile he could not. 
“Deceit don’t work now,” thought 
the agent, “and they have to know 
it sometime.” The agent pushed 
his way inside the door. 

“I have some sad news,” said the 
man, and he proceeded to read the 
telegram: “Engineer Jess Bryan 
died at 11 o’clock from injury sus- 
31 


THE VILLAGE BY THE SEA 


tained in wreck on No. 1.” For 
the time not another word was 
spoken. Everybody sobbed, cried 
and moaned. The son, daughter 
and mother knew the engineer was 
dead before the agent read the tele- 
gram, for his face and actions told 
the sad story. The broken family 
circle of three sobbing ones were 
together in the corner of the room 
and presented a pathetic scene. 
Two score of neighbors came to the 
Bryan home to offer sympathy and 
assistance. The next morning the 
remains arrived on the 8 o’clock 
train and were brought directly to 
the Bryan residence. 

The dim parlor which had been 
the scene of a happy, united family 
less than three days ago, now held 
the dead body of one of the noblest 
of fathers. “He died at his post,” 
said an official of the road. “Yes,” 
32 


THE VILLAGE BY THE SEA 


responded another, “he died a hero 
and had his hand upon the throttle 
when he was struck by the falling 
rock.” 

The result of a “caved-in” tun- 
nel ; and this is its scene. 

There had not been a death in re- 
cent years for which the citizens of 
“the Village by the Sea” expressed 
more sorrow. 

A bereaved widow and two or- 
phans followed the black casket to 
the cemetery, and, amid tears, 
moans and sighs of a great multi- 
tude of friends, the body of Jess 
Bryan was gently laid in its last 
resting place. The widow and or- 
phans went back to the cottage, but 
home had lost a jewel. A vacant 
chair was there! A father’s voice 
was vanished music, and his kisses 
were withered flowers. His noble, 
manly presence and loyal love were 
now forget-me-nots of cherished 
memories. 


33 


CHAPTEE III. 


In “the silent city of the dead” 
there was a monument erected at 
the head of Jess Bryan’s grave 
bearing this 

Epitaph: 

“Husband and father is gone, but 
not forgotten, 

His life at the post of duty per- 
ished ; 

Tho’ removed to heavenly portals, 
His memory is sweetly cher- 
ished. ’ ’ 

Fresh flowers were kept blooming 
on his grave in summer and pretty 
shells lay as a covered lid over the 
remains in winter. Often as the 
sun twinkled his “good-night” to 
the twilight world, a widow and two 
orphans were seen to visit the silent 
34 


THE VILLAGE BY THE SEA 


grave where lay their crushed 
hopes and blighted joys. 

Tho’ Jess Bryan died without 
a life insurance policy, he left an un- 
mortgaged home to his loved ones 
who will cherish a father’s and a 
husband’s memory forever. It is 
a home without a father but the 
heavenly Father abides within the 
cottage walls and is the consoler of 
the broken home. 

Clayton Bryan, the manliest of 
boys, was then on the verge of man- 
hood, and by his nobility and thrift 
supported Mrs. Bryan and Bessie 
Lee, his sweet and honored sister. 

“In one point of view,” said 
Clayton, “I can be husband to my 
widowed mother, and a father to my 
fatherless sister.” 

This was now his chief ambition 
of life and he fulfilled his mission 
nobly. Not only did he work to sup- 
35 


THE VILLAGE BY THE SEA 


port sister and mother, but by con- 
stant application, studied at night 
and within one year from his fath- 
er’s death, he was prepared to en- 
ter college. 

During that time he had not only 
supported the inmates of his cottage 
home and provided a music teacher 
for Bessie Lee, hut had saved 
enough money to supply the table 
at home during his ten months ab- 
sence while at college. While all of 
this achievement was most gratify- 
ing to the noble young man, there 
was one thing lacking. This hind- 
rance was the need of money with 
which to pay his way thru the 
term of college. This deficiency 
bothered the brave lad, but on he 
toiled. “Its my earnest prayer,” 
said the widowed mother, “that God 
in his own good way, will pro- 


36 


THE VILLAGE BY THE SEA 


vide a way for my only son to enter 
college. ’ ’ 

Since his father’s death, the con- 
duct of Clayton Bryan had been 
closely watched by the neighbors 
and his record was most gratifying 
to all. It was a cool, dewy morning 
when Mrs. Bryan and the two chil- 
dren sat at the breakfast table dis- 
cussing the possibility of sending 
son to college. “The star of hope 
has shown dimly,” said the aspirant 
of a college career, “but with work, 
faith and prayer, the future makes 
all worthy things possible.” 

“I admire the spirit you reveal,” 
nodded Mrs. Bryan, with approval. 

The morning meal was finished 
and it was the ideal time for their 
happy morning chat. Bing! King! 
Bing! went the door bell. “It’s a 
gentleman at the door,” exclaimed 


37 


THE VILLAGE BY THE SEA 


Bessie Lee, who saw his form thru 
the glass. 

Mrs. Bryan hastened to open the 
door. 

“It’s neighbor Eussell,” whis- 
pered Clayton to his sister. 

Mr. Bussel was seated in the par- 
lor and a friendly conversation en- 
sued. 

‘ ‘ I am on my way to town, ’ ’ said 
Mr. Russell, “and as I passed your 
gate I felt divinely impressed to 
stop and see you.” 

“I am glad you came,” re- 
sponded Mrs. Bryan. “You have 
been very kind to us in our sad be- 
reavement. ’ ’ 

“Not kinder than was my duty 
to be,” responded the neighbor. 

“•I had a long talk yesterday, 
with your son, Clayton,” continued 
Mr. Russell, “and after learning 
his intentions and financial inability 
38 


THE VILLAGE BY THE SEA 


to go to college I have decided to 
pay you the four hundred dollars I 
borrowed from your deceased hus- 
band just before his death. This is 
a sacrifice,” said Mr. Russell as he 
began to write the check, “but I’m 
glad to make it and regret my in- 
ability to have paid it sooner.” 

“You are very kind,” said the 
lady with her ever pleasant smile, 
“this amount will carry Clayton 
thru the ten months of college quite 
nicely. ’ ’ 

Thus concluding the interview 
the neighbor bade the widow a 
“good morning” and soon was on 
his way to town feeling that he had 
not only paid an honest debt but 
had aided an aspiring young man 
upon the ladder of success. 

Soon as Mr. Russell left, Clayton, 
with his sister, rushed to the parlor 
to know the nature of the interview. 


39 


THE VILLAGE BY THE SEA 


The mother’s face beamed with 
gladness which told that something 
pleasing had happened. Mrs. 
Bryan said, “Go look within the 
lids of the Bible in which God 
promises to answer prayer and you 
will find a way provided for you to 
go to college. ’ ’ Bessie Lee 
clapped her white hands with joy, 
and Clayton rushed to the center 
table and quickly turned the leaves 
of the worn Bible, till he found the 
precious treasure. “Why, it’s a 
check for four hundred dollars,” 
shouted the young man. “I’m the 
happiest person on earth.” 

“Let us kneel in prayer and show 
our gratitude to God,” said the 
mother. 


40 


Chapter IV. 


With new clothes, new books, 
and high ambition, Clayton Bryan 
was ready for college. 

But one fear possessed his other- 
wise happy heart. Would Princess 
LeEoy be unmarried when he was 
graduated? 

“I might get her to promise to 
remain single till my return, ’ ’ 
thought Clayton. “Anyway, I 
must try.” 

Ere the day set for his departure, 
Clayton Bryan visited “the damsel 
of his heart” at the pretty home 
of her parents. 

’Twas a still, dark evening and 
the parlor fire burned brightly. 
“Miss Princess” began the lover, 
and the very name which he had 
heard called a thousand times at 
school, thrilled his heart. 

41 


THE VILLAGE BY THE SEA 


“This is our last interview till 
my return from college. I go to 
return an abler man and aspire to 
be worthy of your love. I leave 
with you my heart, and when you 
see me again, I will be a lecturer. ’ ’ 

Princess Leroy had not lifted her 
eyes from the bright grate-fire till 
she said: “Well, that is your call- 
ing, Clayton” — for she addressed 
him as if he were still her pupil. 
“You were the best orator in my 
school.” 

He moved closer and said: 
“Miss Princess, you are the queen 
of my heart, I love you as I love 
no other under Heaven. Will you 
promise to remain unmarried ’till 
my return from college?” 

“No, I can not promise that,” 
she answered, “but in all probabil- 
ity I’ll bear the same name when 
you see me again.” 

42 


THE VILLAGE BY THE SEA 


Clayton sighed — “then you do 
not return my love, Miss Prin- 
cess?” 

“Yes, I love you, but I can make 
you no promise,” said the girl. 

The lovers parted and Clayton’s 
last sentence was, “let fate be what 
‘it may, but some day I’ll be worthy 
of your love.” 


43 


Chapter V. 


After Graduating from College. 

It was a beautiful October after- 
noon and Clayton Bryan was to 
celebrate his twenty-first birthday 
that night in the largest auditorium 
to be found in “The Village by the 
Sea.” Having just returned from 
a successful lecture tour which 
dated from his graduation, the 
young orator was billed to lecture 
in the auditorium — the minimum 
admission charge being fifty cents. 
It was the first opportunity af- 
forded the citizens of “The Village 
by the Sea” to hear him on the 
lecture platform; although several 
of his leading townsmen heard his 
college address at the commence- 
ment which fairly swayed the great 
audience of more than five thou- 


44 


THE VILLAGE BY THE SEA 


sand persons. For two months the 
“home papers” had heralded the 
success of Clayton Bryan, and to- 
night was the greatly talked-of oc- 
casion. 

The young orator again sat in his 
cottage home with mother and sis- 
ter, and as he expressed it, was 
“prepared to meet defeat or suc- 
cess with smiles and patience, and 
fight life’s battles bravely.” 

Family conversation ensued. 
Mrs. Bryan said, “Tonight, just 
twenty-two years ago, at this very 
hour, the wedding bells were sweet- 
ly ringing while your darling father 
and I sat talking of the future and 
our wedding which was to take 
place that October night. It was 
the village talk for weeks and when 
the hour came in which we were 
united as one, carriages filled the 
streets, friends and neighbors oc- 
45 


THE VILLAGE BY THE SEA 


cupied every space in the church 
and five hundred persons were 
turned away for lack of room. 
While no occasion can ever be so 
sweet to me as when I stood by his 
side at the marriage altar,” con- 
tinued Mrs. Bryan, “I think that 
your lecture tonight, the first I am 
to hear, will crown my heart with 
happiness and the crowd will be 
even larger than that which at- 
tended our happy wedding. ’ ’ 

“I trust the occasion will be a 
success,” said Clayton, “yet if it 
is not, I will accept defeat as a man 
and conquer in the future.” 

“You need not fear,” spoke Bes- 
sie Lee, for it seems that every one 
in ‘The Village’ is going.” 

“Time shall tell,” said Clayton, 
with an air of self-confidence, “and 
I am prepared for the occasion.” 
The hour approached. Predic- 

46 


THE VILLAGE BY THE SEA 


tions were not short of the result. 
Carriages filled the streets and the 
great auditorium was the scene of 
hundreds of persons crowding its 
entrance. By that time the yoimg 
orator knew that the audience 
would number thousands and he 
was equal to the occasion. 

The great audience which as- 
sembled at the auditorium packed 
the space with an expectant people. 
Hundreds stood in the aisles for 
lack of seats, while many were 
turned away for lack of room. 

In box seats near the stage, was 
a party of young people, among 
whom was Miss Princess LeEoy. 

Clayton Bryan came to the stage 
and took a side seat. 

A thunderbolt of applause rang 
in all parts of the auditorium. But 
above the heads of the “box par- 
ty,” “Miss Princess” waved her 
47 


THE VILLAGE BY THE SEA 


white handkercief, to which the 
young lecturer gave a smiling nod 
of the head. In the calm of the mo- 
ment, Clayton Bryan’s professor of 
the college from which he held a 
graduation certificate, arose, 
stepped to the stage-edge and said 
in part in a clear distinct voice : 

‘‘Ladies and gentlemen! I am 
glad to see this great auditorium 
thronged with the buds of youth, 
blossoms of beauty and wisdom of 
age. I have walked amid the gar- 
dens of nature when all the colors 
of the rainbow had faded from the 
sky and reappeared in the bloom- 
ing fiowers; the walks were lain 
with golden sands; the lovers sat 
by the wayside repeating the old 
story in a new light of love; music 
pealed in volumes of sentiment 
from the grand stand; children ran 
and frolicked like butterfiies; the 
48 


THE VILLAGE BY THE SEA 


skies were pictures of crimson, gold 
and gray, bordered with blue ; maid- 
ens dressed in violet and orange, 
walked arm in arm ; fair ladies 
marched between flower-perfumed 
isles . to the grand stand, while 
thoroughbred horses shot by on the 
race track amid applause of ten 
thousand voices — and I thought it 
was grand. 

“But the grandest thing, nearest 
the radiance that ebbs from Al- 
mighty’s throne, is this vast audi- 
ence assembled to hear their neigh- 
bor boy, America’s young orator, 
your friend and mine, Clayton 
Bryan. ’ ’ 


49 


Chapter VI. 

Five Years Later. 

Five years of his successful “lec- 
ture career” passed, during which 
Clayton Bryan had retained the 
love of Princess LeEoy and had be- 
come a wealthy man in money and 
lands. 

Not only was his life successful 
as a celebrated lecturer, but being 
“a son of knowledge” he invested 
his money to great advantage. 

But in all of his prosperity, he 
had not forgotten the damsel of his 
first love, the “Princess” to whom 
he daily carried apples or grapes 
when he was climbing the lower 
steps of learning’s ladder. 

Clayton Bryan was a strong man, 
in influence, knowledge, morality, 
and finance ; but never could he for- 
get his “first love.” 

50 


THE VILLAGE BY THE SEA 


Tho’ twenty-six years of age, 
tho’ five years of professional suc- 
cess, lie had one great fear that 
Princess LeEoy loved him only for 
the fortune he possessed; and well 
did he remember her remark of “a 
poor boy” before his college career. 

But one thing he knew well — 
namely, that he loved her above ev- 
ery other young lady of his ac- 
quaintance. 

And his chiefest hope was to com- 
mand her love on manhood’s merit 
and not because of his station in 
life or financial possessions. 

“Twenty-six is a good age for 
matrimony” thought Clayton, “bpt< 
how can I test her love?” 

“If I were poor, and yet pos- 
sessed my profession,” wondered 
he, “would she love me still?” 
“All is fair in love and war.” This 
adage lingered in his mind. “I’ll 
prove her love.” 


51 


Chapter VII. 


’Twas an August morning when 
Princess LeEoy lay in the hammock 
in the shady yard of her parents’ 
home. 

Ere the Eastern sun changed the 
cool of the morning or kissed the 
dew from the lips of the rose the 
newsboy threw the morning paper 
in the yard close by the hammock — 
so close that Princess only had to 
reach out her hand to get it. 

The birds in the tree above her 
head, sang sweetly and brought her 
sentiments of love, while her mind 
traced the past when she taught 
‘‘the poor boy” who gained her 
love, the time she said good bye on 
his departure to college, the mem- 
orable evening when he delivered 
his first lecture in “The Village by 
the Sea” — and down to the pres- 
ent, with his possession of wealth. 

52 


THE VILLAGE BY THE SEA 


“How can he doubt my love?” 
she asked herself. 

“Really, I do love him and him 
only.” Awaking from her day- 
dream, she read the morning paper. 
Little did she expect a shock but 
soon she saw headlines of “Bank- 
ruptcy” and then in plain language, 
that her own dear Clayton had be- 
come a poor man. She could not 
finish the article for her tears, and 
lay back into the hammock and wept 
like a hurt child. 

After lifting her beautiful but 
tear swollen eyes from her wet 
handkerchief, she remembered that 
Clayton was due to call that even- 
ing. 

‘ ‘ But may be he ’s so discouraged 
over his ‘financial failure’ that he 
won’t come” she thought, “but I do 
hope he will, for I could cheer him 
with my sympathy.” 

53 


Chaptee VIII. 

Love’s Test. 

At evening, according to engage- 
ment, Clayton Bryan sat by the side 
of Princess Leroy in her parlor. 
He wore a forced look of care on his 
face which commanded the pity of 
his sweetheart. 

And the care on his face was not 
altogether artificial, for it was an 
hour of decision — whether the girl 
loved him for himself, or for his 
money. “Love’s test is hard but 
just” thought Clayton and he 
played his part well. 

“Have you heard of my bank- 
ruptcy?” asked Clayton somewhat 
sadly. 

“Yes, all about it in the morning 
paper” responded Princess with 
tears. ‘ ‘ Money is not honor, knowl- 
54 


THE VILLAGE BY THE SEA 


edge and morality,” exclaimed 
Princess in a cheerful tone, “and 
doesn’t buy the way to heaven.” 

“But from wealth to poverty is 
a sad change” responded the man. 

“But you have great cause for 
cheer,” said Princess sweetly, “you 
still have your profession and ener- 
gy to use it, you still have the fu- 
ture and friends to love you.” 

“Very true,” answered Clayton, 
“but even without a dollar to my 
credit, still I’d be rich if I had only 
you.” 

“Why that would increase your 
poverty and care,” responded the 
damsel, smiling. 

“But, little girl,” said Clayton 
seriously, “even a penniless man 
has a heart; and poverty can not 
banish love. I loved you in my 
early school days, I loved you in 
my strides to gain knowledge, I 
55 


THE VILLAGE BY THE SEA 


loved you in my struggle to obtain 
means to attend college, I loved you 
in my early lecturing career, I 
loved you in the climax of my suc- 
cess and I love you still!” 

“Even tho’ you are penniless,” 
responded Princess, “I love you, 
too.” 

“Then you’ll be my wife in face 
of my misfortune?” asked Clayton 
as he took her slender, white hand. 

“Yes, indeed!” she responded. 

“You are the truest, sweetest girl 
in the world” said Clayton, “and 
after all I guess our poverty won’t 
cause much sacrifice, for my bank- 
ruptcy was only a bogus announce- 
ment to test your love.” 

The End. 


56 


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i 




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One copy del. to Cat. Div. 


UCT 19 1910 



